A quarter of a million children are at risk of starvation in "open-air prisons" in besieged Syria despite the truce, Save the Children has said, as peace talks scheduled to resume on Wednesday looked shaky.

Some 486,700 people in 18 different areas across Syria are under siege by either government or opposition forces, according to the UN, with no movement of food, medicines or fuel in or out. Some aid agencies say the true number may be up to 1.9 million.

There were hopes that the current cessation of hostilities, which came into force on 27 February, would be a turning point, enabling aid organisations to access besieged areas. A handful of aid convoys have since reached 150,000 people, but charities and residents say deliveries have been patchy.

"Aid has reached some areas, but deliveries are piecemeal and inconsistent," Save the Children's CEO, Tanya Steele, said. "To have children going hungry and sick just a short drive from warehouses of food is appalling and it's time we ended this shameful situation."

A baby sleeps near the railway tracks at the makeshift camp of the Greek-Macedonian border, near the village of Idomeni. (AFP photo)

Access is granted to each convoy individually, and they are only able to take enough supplies to last a few weeks, with no guarantee of when the next delivery will be made.

In a report released on Wednesday, a third of 126 residents interviewed by Save the Children say they often go without a single meal a day, and a quarter have seen children in their towns dying because of lack of food. The report paints a stark picture of the cruelties of living under siege - in Moadamiyeh, just a few miles from the capital Damascus, three newborn babies died after medical staff ran out of IV bags.

"A relative's infant son died from malnutrition because of the lack of formula and food for children," Um Tarek, a mother in the village of Misraba, in the suburbs of Damascus, told Save the Children. "His mother wasn't able to breastfeed him because she was in such poor health."

Abdul Wahab Ahmed, a civil society activist in Madaya, which has been under government siege since July, told The Independent that more than 300 children in the town were currently suffering symptoms of severe malnutrition. Images on Twitter showed children and infants with distended stomachs.

An eight-year-old boy died from lack of food on 27 February - the day the truce officially took hold - Mr Ahmed added. He said the two aid deliveries that had been made had been vital, but insufficient. Before the latest delivery, a kilogram of rice in the city was selling for $230 (£160). Aid agencies say that unless there is a more permanent end to the violence in Syria - soon to enter its sixth year - there is little hope of seeing an end to the use of siege as a tactic by both sides.

Official peace talks were scheduled to begin on Wednesday, but the High Negotiations Committee, the umbrella body of the mainstream Syrian opposition, has still not confirmed whether it would attend. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura was adamant that initial talks would take place, saying he would be holding "substantive" talks between government and the opposition by next Monday.

The pause in fighting has given many Syrians a brief respite from the relentless violence, but the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that fighting had killed over 40 civilians in the past two days, more than in the previous eight days of the truce combined. Meanwhile three rockets fired from Syria landed on the Turkish border city of Kilis, killing a four-year-old boy and one other person. Turkey responded by firing at Isis targets in Syria.

Initial peace talks planned by Mr de Mistura collapsed in early February, after the start of a Russian-backed government offensive on Aleppo. There are now fears the city may soon face siege tactics like those seen across the rest of Syria. "We are extremely concerned about the situation in Aleppo," said Ashley Proud, of Mercy Corps. "There are around 300,000 people there at risk of becoming trapped... They have limited options for flight."

WASHINGTON: A red-bearded Islamic State commander described by American officials as the group's de facto minister of war may have been killed in an air strike in Syria on Friday by the US-led coalition, several US officials said on Tuesday.

Abu Omar al-Shishani, also known as Omar the Chechen, ranked among the most wanted militants under a US reward program that offered up to $5 million for information to help remove him from the battlefield.

Born in 1986 in Georgia, which was then still part of the Soviet Union, Shishani had a reputation as a close military adviser to Islamic State's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was said by followers to have relied heavily on him.

He may have been killed during a coalition strike on March 4 near the town of al-Shadadi, which US-backed forces from the Syrian Arab Coalition captured from the Islamic State last month. Still, the United States still appeared unwilling to declare Shishani dead.

Two US officials expressed optimism about the strike but acknowledged that a determination about Shishani's fate was not certain and that the results of the operation still were being reviewed. A third official limited himself to saying Shishani was targeted in the strike.

A fourth official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the strike targeted a vehicle believed to be carrying Shishani, but declined to offer further details.

An official in the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which has been fighting Islamic State in the al-Shadadi area, said it had received information al-Shishani was killed but had no details and had been unable to confirm the death. The official declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The US State Department described Shishani as a senior Islamic State commander and Shura Council member based in al-Raqqa, the Islamic State's de facto capital in Syria.

It said he was identified as the Islamic State's military commander in a video distributed by the group in 2014.

Shishani, whose name was originally Tarkhan Tayumurazovich Batirashvili, oversaw a prison facility near Raqqa where Islamic State possibly held foreign hostages.

If confirmed, the strike would be one of the most successful operations to take out Islamic State's leadership in Iraq and Syria since May, when US special operations forces killed the man who directed the group's oil, gas and financial operations.

In November, a US air strike killed Islamic State's senior leader in Libya, known as Abu Nabil.

Early reports indicate large casualties on the Saudi forces in the missile attack. The Saudi army and its coalition members have lost, at least, over a hundred troops each time they have come under a ballistic missile attack by Yemen.

The Yemeni forces have fired tens of missiles on the military positions and gathering centers of Saudi-led coalition so far, killing hundreds of Saudi forces and injuring many more.

In a relevant development on Tuesday, the Qaher-I missile hit al-Khanjar military base in al-Jawf province, destroying their military hardware and equipment.

The Saudi-led forces' armored vehicles were destroyed during the Yemeni missile attack.

Scores of Saudi forces were killed and injured in the Yemeni missile strikes.

In late February, a Yemeni Tochka missile hit the Saudi-led coalition's military base in Ma'rib province, killing tens of coalition servicemen, including 8 senior Saudi and UAE officers.

A Commander of Yemen's Ansarullah Movement confirmed firing of the ballistic missile at the Ma'as military base in Ma'rib in Central Yemen.

He noted that at least 48 Saudi forces were killed in Yemen's Tochka missile attack.

Also on February 3, the Yemeni forces rained down a barrage of missiles at the Saudi forces' military tower in Al-Dokhan region in Jizan province in Southern Saudi Arabia.

Al-Dokhan tower was reportedly destroyed in the Yemeni missile attacks in Jizan as eyewitnesses said that they had seen smoke rising from it.

The Yemeni army and popular forces regained control of Al-Khurma region in Asir province after they destroyed two arms depots and other military hardware of the Yemeni forces in the region.

Meantime, the Yemeni army's artillery units pounded Malhama military base in Jizan province. The Saudi troops started fleeing their base as soon as they came under the missile attack.

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Houthis and Saudis in Yemen peace talks

Tuesday 8 March 2016

A Houthi delegation is in Saudi Arabia to discuss bringing to a close a theatre of Saudi-Iranian rivalry in the Middle East

Houthis and their Saudi foes have begun talks to try to end Yemen’s war, two officials said, in what appears their most serious bid to close a theatre of Saudi-Iranian rivalry deepening political tumult across the Middle East.

A delegation from Yemen’s Houthi movement, which is allied with Iran, is in neighbouring Saudi Arabia in the first visit of its kind since the war began last year between Houthi forces and an Arab military coalition led by Saudi Arabia, a foe of Tehran.

The reported talks coincide with an apparent lull in fighting on the Saudi-Yemen border and in Saudi-led Arab coalition airstrikes on the Houthi-held Yemeni capital Sana’a.

Underlining the regional rifts, a senior Iranian military official meanwhile signalled that Iran could yet send military advisers to Yemen to help the Houthis. Brigadier general Masoud Jazayeri, deputy chief of staff of the armed forces, suggested Iran could support the Houthis as it has similarly backed President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in Syria, in an interview with the Tasnim news agency.

Asked if Iran would send military advisers to Yemen, as it had in Syria, Jazayeri said: “The Islamic Republic ... feels its duty to help the people of Yemen in any way it can and to any level necessary.”

Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of backing Yemen’s armed Houthi movement, which drove the internationally recognised government into exile. The United Nations says nearly 6,000 people have been killed in Yemen’s fighting. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced.

The two senior officials from the administration that runs the parts of Yemen controlled by the Houthis said the Houthi visit to Saudi Arabia began on Monday at the invitation of Saudi authorities, following a week of secret preparatory talks.

The Houthi delegation in Saudi Arabia is headed by Mohammed Abdel-Salam, the Houthis’ main spokesman and a senior adviser to Houthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, the officials said. Abdel-Salam previously led Houthi delegates in talks in Oman that paved the way for UN-sponsored talks in Switzerland last year.

A spokesman for the Saudi-led Arab coalition fighting to restore President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power could not immediately be reached for comment. A Saudi foreign ministry spokesman could not be reached either.

Like Syria, Yemen is contested turf in Shia Muslim Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia’s power struggle across the Middle East, which has played out along largely sectarian lines.

Tehran views the Houthis as the legitimate authority in Yemen but denies providing material support to them. The Houthis say they are a fighting a revolution against a corrupt government and its Gulf Arab backers.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army launched massive attack on ISIL's stronghold in the Southwestern part of Homs province.

The Syrian army started large-scale offensive on an ISIL stronghold near the city of Qauryataun Southwest of Homs province on Tuesday.

The terrorists' positions near the city of Palmyra have also been destroyed in Eastern Homs province.

The Syrian army continued its advances in al-Quaryatayn region and took full control of a strategic region in the Eastern part of Homs province.

The Syrian government troops seized back a key hilltop in the Southwestern part of al-Quaryatayn city in Homs province.

Scores of militants were killed and wounded in tough battle with the Takfiri terrorists.

In a relevant development earlier on Tuesday, the Syrian army made considerable advances against the ISIL terrorists in the Western part of al-Quaryatayn city in Eastern part of Homs province and took control of a strategic village.

The army units seized back Tal al-Tarax (Tarax hilltop) in fierce clashes with the ISIL terrorists.

Scores of the ISIL terrorists were killed and wounded in the battle over Tarax hilltop.

Meantime, the Syrian army thwarted an ISIL attack on their military positions in al-Maqala region in the Western part of Palmyra, inflicting heavy losses on the terrorists.

Also on Tuesday, an army unit foiled an attack by the ISIL terrorists on a hill in the vicinity of al-Quaryatayn town.

A field source said that an army unit destroyed in a rocket attack a vehicle rigged with big amounts of explosives before it reached a hill in al-Tuloul area near al-Quaryatayn town.

The Syrian air force destroyed vehicles and positions for ISIL terrorists in the vicinity of al-Quaryatayn city and Jazal oil field, Mahasa, al-Savanah and in the vicinity of al-Bayarat area in Homs province.

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Syria: Another ISIL Emir Killed in Raqqa

09 March 2016

TEHRAN (FNA)- Unknown assailants killed another Emir of the ISIL terrorist group in Tabaqa region in the Western part of Raqqa province.

Abdulrahman known as Abu Feisal, the Emir of al-Hasbah, was killed alongside two of his bodyguards by unidentified attackers.

No one or group has thus far claimed the responsibly for the attack.

On Tuesday, the Syrian Kurdish fighters continued their advances in Raqqa province and seized back over half a dozen strategic villages in tough battle with the ISIL terrorists.

The Kurdish forces took full control of seven villages of Al-Hamd, Al-Jad'an, Al-Jadou, Al-Badr, Al-Sarad, Delian and Delian Matli in Raqqa province after fierce clashes with the ISIL.

Scores of Takfiri terrorists were killed and wounded in the clashes with the Kurdish YPG and SDF forces.

The Kurdish forces have made considerable military gains against the ISIL in the Northern and Northeastern parts of Syria in recent days.

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ISIL Withdraws Forces from More Strongholds Northeast of Damascus Province

09 March 2016

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian government forces inflicted more defeats on the ISIL terrorists Northeast of Damascus province and forced them to retreat from more positions in the region.

The Syrian Army troops, Dara’a Qalamoun (Qalamoun Shield), the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) and the National Defense Forces (NDF) liberated the gas pipelines located at the Southwestern countryside of Mahasa after they advanced from the recently captured Thaniyeh Wall.

The ISIL controlled these gas pipelines in Northeastern Damascus since they first emerged in the Qalamoun Mountains in 2014.

In relevant developments in the province on Tuesday, the Syrian army alongside several pro-government paramilitary units continued their cleansing operations at the Eastern slopes of the Qalamoun Mountain, liberating 2 more important sites near the Damascus province's border with Homs.

The Syrian Armed Forces imposed full control over the Thaniyeh Wall and Talat Qabr Antar in the Qalamoun Mountain after a violent battle with the ISIL.

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Syrian Army Captures Several Villages Southeast of Aleppo

09 March 2016

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian Army and its popular allies won more battles against the ISIL terrorists in the Southeastern parts of Aleppo and imposed full control over five more villages.

The Syrian army alongside the National Defense Forces (NDF) and Liwa al-Quds (Jerusalem Brigade) liberated the villages of Shabib, Kharbeel, ‘Akeel, Al-Qalay’at, and Sirada in Khanasser Plains after a violent battle with the ISIL Takfiri terrorists this morning.

Also on Tuesday, the al-Nusra Front and Jund al-Aqsa terrorist groups confirmed that scores of their combatants were killed or wounded after their failed attacks on the government forces' positions in the Southern Aleppo.

At least 26 members of Nusra Front and Jund al-Aqsa were killed and their military vehicles were destroyed in a series of failed offensives in Tal al-Eiss.

The Syria army and its allies have fortified their positions after repelling the militant groups' offensives and are fully ready to defend their strongholds.

There have been meantime, heavy fighting between the army and Nusra near the village of Barda.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Battlefield sources said on Wednesday that the Syrian army discovered and destroyed a long tunnel used as an arms depot by the militants in the Northern city of Aleppo.

"The Syrian army troops seized a long supply tunnel of the terrorists in one of the neighborhoods of Aleppo," the sources said.

"The tunnel could lead the militants toward the Syrian army's positions and concentration centers in Jamiyeh al-Zahra in Dawar al-Maliyeh neighborhood," the sources added.

"The explosion of tunnel was so heavy that Aleppo civilians thought an strong earthquake hade stricken their city," the source went on to say.

Also on Tuesday, the al-Nusra Front and Jund al-Aqsa terrorist groups confirmed that scores of their combatants were killed or wounded after their failed attacks on the government forces' positions in the Southern Aleppo.

At least 26 members of Nusra Front and Jund al-Aqsa were killed and their military vehicles were destroyed in a series of failed offensives in Tal al-Eiss.

The Syria army and its allies have fortified their positions after repelling the militant groups' offensives and are fully ready to defend their strongholds.

There have been meantime, heavy fighting between the army and Nusra near the village of Barda.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Informed sources reported on Wednesday that a senior commander within a militant group affiliated with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) was killed by the fire of unknown assailants in Syria's Southern province of Dara'a.

The Sources said Oufi al-Qaed, a top commander in the hierarchy of militant group called "Jeish al-Yarmouk', was killed while traveling on the road between the two towns of Saida and Kahil in Dara'a province.

Jeish al-Yarmouk is among the militant groups affiliated with the umbrella terrorist organization of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighting against the Syrian Army.

No further detail is available on the incident and on other possible militant casualties in the incident.

Yesterday, at least five FSA terrorists were killed and several more were wounded in heavy fighting with a rival militant group in in Northern part of Dara'a province.

Fierce clashes erupted between the FSA and rival militants after the Free Syrian Army fighters tried to capture the members of the rival group in the small town of al-Aliyeh.

The FSA also injured several members of the rival group.

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South Asia

Top Taliban leaders among 67 reported killed in Herat infighting

By KHAAMA PRESS - Wed Mar 09 2016

Afghan Taliban infightingAmid ongoing fierce clashes among Taliban factions in western Herat province of Afghanistan, reports have emerged regarding the death of two top leaders of the group.

The two top leaders of the group have been identified as Mullah Malik and Mulalh Wakil who have been killed during ongoing infighting which erupted two days ago.

According to reports, Mullah Malik and Mullah Wakil were Taliban’s senior leader and were operating for the group in western Farah province of Afghanistan.

Preliminary reports suggest at last 67 Taliban militants have been killed and 65 others have been wounded as clashes still continue between the two sides.

Local officials said Tuesday that clashes between the two top Taliban leaders, Mullah Samad and Mullah Nangialai, broke out on Monday afternoon in Shindand district.

Taliban abduct civiliansThe Taliban militants have abducted at least 11 civilians from an highway in northern Sar-e-Pul province of Afghanistan, local officials said Wednesday.

The officials further added that the civilians were travelling in a vehicle when they were stopped and abducted by the militants.

A member of the provincial council Mohammad Ali Hakimi confirmed the civilians were on their way to provincial capital when their vehicle was stopped.

Sar-e-Pul is among the relatively volatile provinces in northern Afghanistan where anti-government armed militants groups are actively operating in a number of its districts and often carry out insurgency activities.

DaeshSecurity forces have foiled a planned attack of the terrorist group of Islamic State (IS) which is also locally known by its Arabic name Daesh in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.

Colonel Hazrat Hussain Mashriqiwal, spokesperson for the police headquarters of Nangarhar said militants had intended to carry out destructive activities in Tooragha area of Kot district but police and army prevented them immediately after receiving a tip-off around 10 am today.

The growing cross-border violations by Pakistan was agenda as President Mohammad Ashraf chaired National Security Council (NSC) meeting today, the Office of the President said.

This comes as numerous cross-border violations have been reported during the past one week, including an attack by Pakistan forces which led to a clash with the Afghan border police forces in eastern Nangarhar province.

Expressing concerns regarding the growing violations by Pakistanis, the relevant institutions were instructed to take necessary measures in a bid to repulse the attempts.

The Pakistani military helicopters infiltrated inside the Afghan soil in eastern Kunar province of Afghanistan recently with the local officials saying the helicopters dropped bombs on certain areas in this province.

The cross-border violations by Pakistani military was at its peak before the formation of the government of national unity late in 2014, but the provocative moves reduced by a larger extent last year.

The Pakistani military used to fire scores of artillery shells on daily basis to eastern Kunar and Nuristan provinces as well as other provinces located along the Durand Line.

The latest provocative moves by the Pakistani military comes amid ongoing joint efforts by the two countries, involving China and United States, to put an end to the ongoing violence in the country through peaceful negotiations in the form of Quadrilateral Coordination Group.

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Coordinated attack on Helmand’s Gerishk district

By KHAAMA PRESS - Wed Mar 09 2016

Helmand-Provincial police headquartersA group of armed insurgents have launched a coordinated attack on Gerishk district of southern Helmand province.

Officials say the attack started around 6 am this morning and gunmen are firing light and heavy arms on the governor’s house, police headquarters and other government buildings.

The attack has been reportedly initiated by around 10 militants equipped with suicide vests and other explosives.

So far three of them have been killed and others are still exchanging fire with security forces.

Abdul Jabar Qahraman, commander of Helmand battle says one policeman has so far lost his live in the attack.

China has offered the Afghanistan army expanded military aid to combat the Taliban, according to the Afghan Defense Ministry, a move that reflects Beijing’s readiness to deepen its engagement with the war-torn country, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The offer was made during a rare, high-level visit at the end of February by a Chinese military delegation headed by General Fang Fenghui, chief of the Joint Staff Department of the People’s Liberation Army, Afghan officials said.

China has been wary of publicly supporting the Afghan military against the Taliban, as it nurtures relations with the militant group in an effort to be seen as a neutral party in the conflict and help the peace process. However, deteriorating security and the emergence of Islamic State has prompted China to take a more active role in Afghanistan.

The Turkish army killed 114 militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the southeastern town of İdil over the course of a 20-day operation that ended late on March 8, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.

Doğan News Agency reported that 19 militants were killed in İdil, a district in the southeastern province of Şırnak, on March 8, when Turkish security forces conducting multiple raids.

Senior militant leaders were reportedly among those killed during the raids, as well as five snipers. Security forces also found documents showing suicide bomb training and sniper training during the operations.

Meanwhile, security sources said three new police stations will be constructed in İdil’s Turgut Özal and Yeni Mahalle neighborhoods as part of new measures to be taken in the district to prevent the creation of barricades and trenches by PKK militants in the future.

Three new checkpoints will also be built in the district’s entries and exits, with around 750 riot and counterterrorism police forces to be deployed at checkpoints and police stations in the area.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Hossein Salami disclosed that the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance group is in possession of over 100,000 missiles, which are all ready to launch and hit enemy targets.

"The Zionist regime will collapse in the near future. When Hezbollah has stockpiled over 100,000 missiles, it means Iran has tens of times more than that. Iran is in possession of different classes of missiles, and this power is unstoppable," Salami told reporters Wednesday in the Central province of Qom where the second day of the main stage of the IRGC missile drills are being held.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said Iran's missiles belong to the oppressed nations of the Muslim world, and those who try to threaten them will come under threat by these missiles.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday in the Central province of Qom where the main stage of the IRGC missile drills are being held, Hajizadeh said the missiles fired during the wargames are "Iran-made and belong to the Palestinian, Lebanese, Syrian and Iraqi nations, as well as all the oppressed people of the world."

"We are not after expansionism and certainly these missiles are not being used against terrorist groups. However, that could be a possibility too," he added.

Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941219000437

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Don’t sacrifice Turkey-EU bond for sake of refugee deal: İKV

09 March 2016

Turkey and the European Union should not sacrifice the long-term relationship they have constructed over the years simply to find a mutually convenient solution to the refugee crisis, the chairman of the Economic Development Foundation (İKV) has said.

“It is important for Turkey and the EU not to sacrifice their long-term relationship while seeking an urgent solution to the refugee crisis,” said Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, chairman of İKV, said March 9.

The chairman said Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu had surprised everyone when he submitted new demands and proposals to EU leaders at an EU-Turkey summit on March 7.

Regarding the clause to resettle one Syrian from Turkey in EU member states for every Syrian readmitted by Turkey from Greece, Zeytinoğlu said Syrian nationals had the right to protection as individuals who have fled war, making the accommodation of Syrian nationals in EU countries a reality of international law.

Two killed, two wounded as rocket projectiles from Syria hit Turkey’s Kilis

09 March 2016

Two people have been killed, including a toddler, while two others have been wounded as eight Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) rocket projectiles hit the southeastern border province of Kilis. The military fired back at ISIL targets within the rules of engagement.

The eight Russian-made projectiles that were fired from Syria’s al-Bab region started hitting the province at 2 p.m. on March 8. Two of them hit a local administration office in the Ekrem Çetin neighborhood and three others hit the Kazım Karabekir neighborhood. The three others hit the Turgut Özal and the Tibilevler neighborhoods of the southeastern city.

Three people, including two children, were wounded after a piece of shrapnel hit an automobile on the Kilis highway. Sıdıka Mavzer, 54, succumbed to her wounds in hospital while four-year-old Mert Özkan also died while being transferred to a hospital in Gaziantep from Kilis State Hospital. The other injured child was identified as Mert’s brother, Utku Özkan, aged six.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said the country’s defense industry executive committee on March 9 approved $5.9 billion in new defense projects, $4.5 billion of which will consist of domestic production.

“We today approved $5.9 billion worth of new defense projects. Around $4.5 billion worth of these projects will consist of local production,” he told reporters after the meeting, as quoted by Reuters.

He noted Turkish defense industry exports rose 35 percent in the first two months of the year and that the country had made significant progress in developing weaponized drones, when elaborating on the latest developments in the county’s defense industry.

“The mass production of our locally-developed infantry rifles will start by this year… We also assessed the latest developments regarding the production of the joint warplane… Our air defense system project will continue without any interruption… Plus, we have reached a great point in drone production as we do not need foreign technologies anymore,” he said.

Turkey and Greece vowed close cooperation on March 8 on a plan to send back migrants rejected by Europe, laying aside historic differences in an agreement they hope will end illegal flows of people across the Aegean Sea.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoğlu that the readmission agreement would help to reduce the “unbearable flow” into Europe.

A ballistic missile is launched and tested in an undisclosed location, Iran, in this handout photo released by the official website of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on March 8, 2016. REUTERS/sepahnews.com/Handout via Reuters

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) test-fired several ballistic missiles on Tuesday, state television said, challenging a United Nations resolution and drawing a threat of a diplomatic response from the United States, Reuters reports.

Two months ago, Washington imposed sanctions against businesses and individuals linked to Iran’s missile program over a test of the medium-range Emad missile carried out in October 2015.

Full report at: khaama.com/iran-test-fires-missiles-4622

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The Envoy: Delusions about Iran and Iraq Invasion

Tue Mar 08, 2016

TEHRAN (FNA)- Zalmay Khalilzad, a former US ambassador to Iraq, Afghanistan and the United Nations, has a lot of nerves to write in his book “The Envoy” that Washington and Tehran held confidential talks before the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

He claims the Americans and the Iranians had major differences over how to form a new Iraqi government; that in May 2003 Iran also suffered from regime-change delusions; and that the Bush administration halted the dialogue after it accused Tehran of harbouring leaders of Al-Qaeda. Obviously, Khalilzad is desperate to change history. He claims Tehran somehow encouraged the War Party to invade Iraq and turn it into a failed state it is now. This is what they call “self-delusion”.

Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941218001400

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Two more shooting attacks in Jerusalem as Biden visits

AFP | Mar 9, 2016

Israelis look at the scene of a stabbing attack in the central Israeli city of Petah Tikvah. (AP photo)

Israelis look at the scene of a stabbing attack in the central Israeli city of Petah Tikvah. (AP photo)

JERUSALEM: Two Palestinians opened fire at two different locations in Jerusalem on Wednesday, leaving one person seriously wounded, Israeli police said.

Both attackers were shot by police, with at least one killed. Police provided conflicting information on whether the second attacker had been killed or wounded.

The shootings were the latest in a string of attacks coinciding with US Vice President Joe Biden's arrival on Tuesday.

Erdoğan praises family, traditional values on International Women’s Day

09 March 2016

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan praised “family and traditional values” on March 8 International Women’s Day, suggesting that the liberal notion of “economic freedom” is not actually as liberating as motherhood for women.

“In my opinion, the mindset that limits life to the parenthesis of ‘economic freedom’ has inflicted the heaviest damage on women. What work that a mother does can be converted into money?” Erdoğan said, delivering a speech in Ankara at a convention of women workers hosted by the Metal Workers Trade Union of Turkey (Türk Metal).

“You cannot liberate women by destroying the family institution and eliminating values. On the contrary, this is an approach that paves the way for the exploitation of women in every field. Every attempt to exploit women’s labor and body targets the future of societies. In the West, the bitter results of this threat can be observed with the weakening of the family institution, the decline of populations, and a collapse of values,” he added.

Erdoğan has frequently praised motherhood in the past. In 2008 he declared that designating just one day as Mothers’ Day was an “insult to mothers,” saying that “one kisses the feet of mothers. Paradise is next to mothers’ feet. That’s how we approach them.”

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon has presented the White House with the most detailed set of military options yet for attacking the growing Islamic State threat in Libya, including a range of potential air strikes against training camps, command centers, munitions depots and other militant targets.

Air strikes against as many as 30 to 40 targets in four areas of the country would aim to deal a crippling blow to the Islamic State's most dangerous affiliate outside of Iraq and Syria, and open the way for western-backed Libyan militias to battle Islamic State fighters on the ground. Allied bombers would carry out additional air strikes to support the militias on the ground. The military option was described by five US officials who have been briefed on the plans and spoke about them on the condition of anonymity because of their confidential nature.

As U.S. forces scramble to confront militant groups across Africa, the Shabab, the Somali terrorist group targeted in a weekend attack north of Mogadishu, remains a nimble, formidable threat to American interests and allies in East Africa despite successive operations designed to crush it.

The operation Saturday by U.S. planes and Reaper drones hit the Shabab's main operations center 120 miles north of the Somali capital and killed at least 150 fighters, dwarfing previous U.S. attacks on Somali militants and signaling a toughening U.S. response.

It also illustrated the resilience of groups such as the Al Qaeda-affiliated Shabab, which has lost a series of leaders and commanders to U.S. airstrikes yet still manages to launch devastating attacks in Somalia and neighboring Kenya.

U.S. airstrikes, operations in Somalia by American special forces and a 22,000-strong African Union force in Somalia, AMISOM, are all designed to stabilize the nation and protect its weak government.

North West MEP calls for ban on Burqas and niqabs being worn in public buildings

Tuesday 8 March 2016 / News

A NORTH West MEP has called for a ban on Burqas and niqabs being worn in public buildings in Britain.

UKIP’s deputy leader Paul Nuttall has said that International Women’s Day today was an “opportunity” to call for the empowerment of women and “free them from the tyranny of the veil”.

He said: “We live in dangerous times when security is all important and it is vital that people’s faces can be seen. Just as importantly we live in a civilised liberal society and why should women be anonymised in this way?”

“All free thinking women should be supporting a ban on full face coverings in public buildings."

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi on Wednesday asked the Punjab government to remove 'controversial' clauses from the Women Protection Act (WPA), contrary to what he said earlier in the week.

Addressing an Ulema Convention in Islamabad, Ashrafi stated that the Women Protection Act, introduced by the Punjab Assembly, should not be abolished altogether, but rather reservations of religious scholars regarding it should be addressed.

He said that some clauses of the Women Protection Act were contradictory to social norms, Shariah and Constitution, which should be revisited.

"Islam gave rights to women and prohibited every kind of violence against them," said Ashrafi.

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) released a statement on Wednesday rubbishing rumours about party chief Altaf Hussain's ill-health.

"Rumours circulating about the leader's health are part of a conspiracy and script to spread despair and spread panic among workers and the public," said the statement.

"[Altaf] is perfectly fine and busy with personal and party matters and is in regular contact with the Rabita Committee, zones, and party departments," the statement quoted Rabita Committee convener Nadeem Nusrat as saying.

Another London-based MQM spokesperson told Dawn.com Hussain is "fine and fresh" and that the reports are part of a "drama".

Rumours about the MQM supremo's ill-health made the rounds on social media and Whatsapp groups as former Karachi mayor, Mustafa Kamal, returned from self-imposed exile this week with Anees Qaimkhani to form a new, yet-unnamed party, inviting MQM members to defect.

ISLAMABAD: The special court seized with the high treason case on Tuesday summoned former president retired General Pervez Musharraf to record his statement.

The three-judge special court, headed by Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court Mazhar Alam Miankhel, directed the former military ruler to record his statement under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

Under this section, the statement of an accused is recorded after the prosecution completes producing evidence in order to give him an opportunity to accept or deny the proofs that may lead to his conviction.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left for Saudi Arabia on a three-day official visit Wednesday to hold ‘important talks with the Saudi leadership,’ reported Radio Pakistan.

Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi are also accompanying the premier, who is visiting the kingdom on the invitation of King Salman to witness the military exercise 'Thunder of the North'.

A large number of heads of state have been invited to witness the ongoing military exercise and its closing ceremony.

Troops from 21 countries, including Pakistan, are participating in the exercise, in the northern region of Saudi Arabia.

Total solar eclipse sweeps across Indonesia, greeted by prayers, rituals and awe

09 March 2016

A total solar eclipse swept across the vast Indonesian archipelago on Wednesday, marked by ecstatic sky gazers cheering the spectacle, devout Muslims kneeling in prayer and tribespeople performing rituals.

The moon began to move between the Earth and sun at 6.19 am, and about an hour later a total eclipse became visible in western parts of the country.Indonesian Muslims perform prayers during the eclipse in Surabaya. Photo: EPA

NEW DELHI: Amid the current thaw in bilateral ties, former Maldivian president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on Tuesday said India remains the "most important strategic" partner of Maldives.

"India was and remains the most strategically important partner of Maldives, whether it is our ties in education and army and navy training and the recent goodwill visit of ships to our country only prove that. And, we wish to continue our ties," he said.

Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya along with its support ships INS Mysore and INS Deepak recently were on a four-day visit to Maldives.

The former Maldivian president said this in response to a question after delivering an address on "Islam: A Religion of Peace" at the Observer Research Foundation here.

Gayoom also condemned acts of terrorism perpetrated globally in the name of Islam and said militant outfits like Islamic State (ISIS) are "not fighting a holy war" or upholding the rights of Muslims with their mindless violence born out of religious ignorance.

"The nature of acts committed by ISIS only stem out of ignorance about Islam. Anyone who understands the basic tenets of this religion knows that it forbids violence and killing of any kind unless prescribed by law for crimes like murder ...

The EU and Turkey have agreed a draft deal that will supposedly stop the flow of refugees into Europe and send them back across the sea?

The EU's 28 leaders have celebrated the deal, with Donald Tusk saying it means "the days of irregular migration to Europe are over".

David Cameron, too, has said it would "break the business model of the people smugglers" and "end the link between getting in a boat and getting settlement in Europe".

But is it all really that simple? We asked the International Organisation for Migration's director for the EU and Nato, Eugenio Ambrosi, and asked him: If not Europe, then where?

How many people are coming over into Europe right now?

Eugenio Ambrosi: "From the beginning of year about 150,000 have come across, with a rate of daily arrival in Greece that has decreased over the last couple of weeks. Right now there are around 2,000 to 2,500 arrivals a day, which is a 50 per cent drop from the first few weeks of the year.

LONDON (AA) – British Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday welcomed progress in talks between Turkey and EU leaders on a plan to resolve the refugee crisis.

Speaking after negotiations in Brussels, Cameron said: “It’s been a long and difficult evening but I think we do have the basis for a breakthrough, which is the possibility that in future all migrants who arrive in Greece will be returned to Turkey.

“That would, if implemented, break the business model of the people smugglers and end the link between getting in a boat and getting settlement in Europe.”

The European Union chief, Donald Tusk, said: “The days of irregular migration to Europe are over”.